The 60-year-old will replace Dallas Eakins and take up the position for the first time in the NHL after five seasons in charge of MLS hockey’s Colorado Avalanche in Loveland, Colorado.
“I am excited and honored to be named head coach of the Anaheim Ducks,” said Cronin. “This team has a bright future ahead of them, and I am very grateful to (owner Henry) Samueli’s family and (General Manager) Pat Verbeek for giving me this wonderful opportunity.”
Eakins was fired on April 14, the day after the Ducks finished the regular season with the team’s record 13-game winning streak (0-11-2) and last in the NHL standings (23-47-12). They didn’t win their first regulation game until they beat the New York Rangers 3-2 at the Honda Center on November 23. Anaheim ranked 31st in goals per game (2.51), last in goals per game (4.09) and 31st in power play (15.7%) and shorthand (72.1%).
The Ducks haven’t qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs since 2017-18, when they were swept by the San Jose Sharks in the first round of the Western Conference. They own the #2 pick in the 2023 Upper Deck NHL Draft at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on June 28-29.
“As we searched a wide net for the next coach, it became clear to me that Greg would be perfect for the job,” said Verbeek. “Being a young team, I felt we needed a mentor to the intricacies of the game, someone who has worked a lot over time with talented young players, helped them become NHL players. To succeed. Greg has done all of this and more, and we are thrilled to have him coach the Anaheim Ducks.”
Cronin was an NHL assistant coach for 12 seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Islanders and an associate coach for the Islanders in 2017-18. He coached the New York AHL in Bridgeport, Connecticut from 2003 to 2005, and led the Tiger Sounds to the Calder Cup playoffs in his senior season.
Cronin coached Northeastern University for six seasons (2005-11). He recalled the prize of Bob Cullen from the entry into the Hockey East championship since the Huskies have passed the three victories of his senior season in participating in the NCAA tour in 2009, the première of college. 15 years.
Three NHL teams are still without a coach: the Calgary Flames, Columbus Blue Jackets and Rangers. The Washington Capitals hired Spencer Carberry on May 30, and the Nashville Predators hired Andrew Brunett as coach the next.
